641-631-49
All-time
0.485
Win %
3
National titles
15
Conf titles
7
Major bowls
0
Playoff apps
0
Weeks at #1
0
Heismans
Rivalries
Illinois-Northwestern RivalryNorthwestern
Illinois-Missouri RivalryMissouri
Greatest games
Illinois's top games of all time by Game Score.
| # | Season | Match | Game Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1947 | Yankee Stadium, New York, New York | 0.97 |
| 2 | 1950 | Illinois Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois Conf Game | 0.72 |
| 3 | 1952 | Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin Conf Game | 0.70 |
| 4 | 1904 | Marshall Field, Chicago, Illinois Conf Game | 0.69 |
| 5 | 1946 | Rose Bowl, Los Angeles, California Major Bowl | 0.69 |
| 6 | 1923 | Iowa Field, Iowa City, Iowa Conf Game | 0.68 |
| 7 | 1910 | Jordan Field, Bloomington, Indiana Conf Game | 0.68 |
| 8 | 1917 | Stagg Field, Chicago, Illinois Conf Game | 0.66 |
| 9 | 1915 | Illinois Field, Champaign, Illinois Conf Game | 0.66 |
| 10 | 1964 | Illinois Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois Conf Game | 0.66 |
Season by season (major seasons)
| Year | School | Record | Conference | Conf Champ | AP | Bowl | Natl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Illinois | 0-0 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2025 | Illinois | 9-4 | Big Ten | Music City Bowl (W) | |||
| 2024 | Illinois | 10-3 | Big Ten | #16 | Citrus Bowl | ||
| 2023 | Illinois | 5-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2022 | Illinois | 8-5 | Big Ten | ReliaQuest Bowl (L) | |||
| 2021 | Illinois | 5-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2020 | Illinois | 2-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2019 | Illinois | 6-7 | Big Ten | Redbox Bowl (L) | |||
| 2018 | Illinois | 4-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2017 | Illinois | 2-10 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2016 | Illinois | 3-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2015 | Illinois | 5-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2014 | Illinois | 6-7 | Big Ten | Heart of Dallas Bowl (L) | |||
| 2013 | Illinois | 4-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2012 | Illinois | 2-10 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2011 | Illinois | 7-6 | Big Ten | Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (W) | |||
| 2010 | Illinois | 7-6 | Big Ten | Texas Bowl (W) | |||
| 2009 | Illinois | 3-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2008 | Illinois | 5-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2007 | Illinois | 9-4 | Big Ten | #20 | Rose Bowl (L)MajorBCS | ||
| 2006 | Illinois | 2-10 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2005 | Illinois | 2-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2004 | Illinois | 3-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2003 | Illinois | 1-11 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2002 | Illinois | 5-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 2001 | Illinois | 10-2 | Big Ten | ★ | #12 | Sugar Bowl (L)MajorBCS | |
| 2000 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1999 | Illinois | 8-4 | Big Ten | #24 | MicronPC Bowl (W) | ||
| 1998 | Illinois | 3-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1997 | Illinois | 0-11 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1996 | Illinois | 2-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1995 | Illinois | 5-5-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1994 | Illinois | 7-5 | Big Ten | Liberty Bowl (W) | |||
| 1993 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1992 | Illinois | 6-5-1 | Big Ten | Holiday Bowl (L) | |||
| 1991 | Illinois | 6-6 | Big Ten | John Hancock Bowl (L) | |||
| 1990 | Illinois | 8-4 | Big Ten | ★ | #25 | Hall of Fame Bowl (L) | |
| 1989 | Illinois | 10-2 | Big Ten | #10 | Citrus Bowl (W)Major | ||
| 1988 | Illinois | 6-5-1 | Big Ten | All-American Bowl (L) | |||
| 1987 | Illinois | 3-7-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1986 | Illinois | 4-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1985 | Illinois | 6-5-1 | Big Ten | Peach Bowl (L) | |||
| 1984 | Illinois | 7-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1983 | Illinois | 10-2 | Big Ten | ★ | #10 | Rose Bowl (L)Major | |
| 1982 | Illinois | 7-5 | Big Ten | Liberty Bowl (L) | |||
| 1981 | Illinois | 7-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1980 | Illinois | 3-7-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1979 | Illinois | 2-8-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1978 | Illinois | 1-8-2 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1977 | Illinois | 3-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1976 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1975 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1974 | Illinois | 6-4-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1973 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1972 | Illinois | 3-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1971 | Illinois | 5-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1970 | Illinois | 3-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1969 | Illinois | 0-10 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1968 | Illinois | 1-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1967 | Illinois | 4-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1966 | Illinois | 4-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1965 | Illinois | 6-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1964 | Illinois | 6-3 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1963 | Illinois | 8-1-1 | Big Ten | ★ | #3 | Rose Bowl (W)Major | |
| 1962 | Illinois | 2-7 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1961 | Illinois | 0-9 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1960 | Illinois | 5-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1959 | Illinois | 5-3-1 | Big Ten | #13 | |||
| 1958 | Illinois | 4-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1957 | Illinois | 4-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1956 | Illinois | 2-5-2 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1955 | Illinois | 5-3-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1954 | Illinois | 1-8 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1953 | Illinois | 7-1-1 | Big Ten | ★ | #7 | ||
| 1952 | Illinois | 4-5 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1951 | Illinois | 9-0-1 | Big Nine | ★ | #4 | Rose Bowl (W)Major | |
| 1950 | Illinois | 7-2 | Big Nine | #13 | |||
| 1949 | Illinois | 3-4-2 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1948 | Illinois | 3-6 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1947 | Illinois | 5-3-1 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1946 | Illinois | 8-2 | Big Nine | ★ | #5 | Rose Bowl (W)Major | |
| 1945 | Illinois | 2-6-1 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1944 | Illinois | 5-4-1 | Big Nine | #15 | |||
| 1943 | Illinois | 3-7 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1942 | Illinois | 6-4 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1941 | Illinois | 2-6 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1940 | Illinois | 1-7 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1939 | Illinois | 3-4-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1938 | Illinois | 3-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1937 | Illinois | 3-3-2 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1936 | Illinois | 4-3-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1935 | Illinois | 3-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1934 | Illinois | 7-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1933 | Illinois | 5-3 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1932 | Illinois | 5-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1931 | Illinois | 2-6 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1930 | Illinois | 3-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1929 | Illinois | 6-1-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1928 | Illinois | 7-1 | Big Ten | ★ | |||
| 1927 | Illinois | 7-0-1 | Big Ten | ★ | National | ||
| 1926 | Illinois | 6-2 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1925 | Illinois | 5-3 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1924 | Illinois | 6-1-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1923 | Illinois | 8-0 | Big Ten | ★ | National | ||
| 1922 | Illinois | 2-5 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1921 | Illinois | 3-4 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1920 | Illinois | 5-2 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1919 | Illinois | 6-1 | Big Ten | ★ | National | ||
| 1918 | Illinois | 5-2 | Big Ten | ★ | |||
| 1917 | Illinois | 5-2-1 | Big Ten | ||||
| 1916 | Illinois | 3-3-1 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1915 | Illinois | 5-0-2 | Big Nine | ★ | |||
| 1914 | Illinois | 7-0 | Big Nine | ★ | |||
| 1913 | Illinois | 4-2-1 | Big Nine | ||||
| 1912 | Illinois | 3-3-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1911 | Illinois | 4-2-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1910 | Illinois | 7-0 | Western Intercollegiate | ★ | |||
| 1909 | Illinois | 5-2 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1908 | Illinois | 5-1-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1907 | Illinois | 3-2 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1906 | Illinois | 1-3-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1905 | Illinois | 5-4 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1904 | Illinois | 9-2-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1903 | Illinois | 8-6 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1902 | Illinois | 10-2-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1901 | Illinois | 8-2 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1900 | Illinois | 7-3-2 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1899 | Illinois | 3-5-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1898 | Illinois | 4-5 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1897 | Illinois | 6-2 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1896 | Illinois | 4-2-1 | Western Intercollegiate | ||||
| 1895 | Illinois | 4-2-1 | Independent | ||||
| 1894 | Illinois | 4-3 | Independent | ||||
| 1893 | Illinois | 3-2-3 | Independent | ||||
| 1892 | Illinois | 7-4-1 | Independent |
Award winners
33 major award winners and consensus All-Americans.
| Year | Player | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Johnny Newton | Consensus All-American |
| 2022 | Devon Witherspoon | Consensus All-American |
| 2011 | Whitney Mercilus | Consensus All-American |
| 2011 | Whitney Mercilus | Ted Hendricks Award |
| 2007 | J Leman | Consensus All-American |
| 1995 | Kevin Hardy | Consensus All-American |
| 1995 | Kevin Hardy | Dick Butkus Award |
| 1994 | Dana Howard | Consensus All-American |
| 1994 | Dana Howard | Dick Butkus Award |
| 1990 | Moe Gardner | Consensus All-American |
| 1989 | Moe Gardner | Consensus All-American |
| 1985 | David Williams | Consensus All-American |
| 1984 | David Williams | Consensus All-American |
| 1965 | Jim Grabowski | Consensus All-American |
| 1965 | Jim Grabowski | Heisman Finalist |
| 1964 | Dick Butkus | Consensus All-American |
| 1964 | Dick Butkus | Heisman Finalist |
| 1963 | Dick Butkus | Consensus All-American |
| 1959 | Bill Burrell | Consensus All-American |
| 1959 | Bill Burrell | Heisman Finalist |
| 1953 | J.C. Caroline | Consensus All-American |
| 1951 | Johnny Karras | Consensus All-American |
| 1946 | Alex Agase | Consensus All-American |
| 1926 | Bernie Shively | Consensus All-American |
| 1925 | Red Grange | Consensus All-American |
| 1924 | Red Grange | Consensus All-American |
| 1923 | James McMillen | Consensus All-American |
| 1923 | Red Grange | Consensus All-American |
| 1920 | Charles Carney | Consensus All-American |
| 1918 | John Depler | Consensus All-American |
| 1915 | Bart Macomber | Consensus All-American |
| 1914 | Perry Graves | Consensus All-American |
| 1914 | Ralph Chapman | Consensus All-American |